SAN DIEGO – Fire officials told local leaders for years that a lack of firefighters combined with dry brush and hot winds could result in massive wildfires like the ones that raged in recent weeks – but the warnings were often ignored, it was reported Saturday.

Fire officials also predicted they would be unable to stop even small brush fires because they lacked resources, according to a review of San Diego city and county records by the Los Angeles Times.

Voters, however, rejected referendums to beef up fire protection with increased taxes.